Chapter 688

Chapter 73: Purified by Fire Part Five

The woman extended her intact, fair and jade-like right hand, slowly touching the liquid flowing on the blood egg.

“But you are different.”

The viscous blood instantly stained her slender fingers an disgusting dark red.

“Your current body has already been refined by the essence, becoming a pure divine body. Even though you still need some time to adapt to it, to adapt to your new body after being reorganized, until it can fully bear the complete power of a deity…”

“I originally wanted this process to be gradual. Before the essence fully awakens, I still have two months to collect enough blood to help you fully digest the sin power, to stabilize your new body, then, using your chaos, swallow that already insane essence… the essence of the Sin Goddess. You must completely extinguish it, turn it into your sustenance…”

“Sylvieja, only you can do this thing, not me, not anyone else, only you, with your chaotic power from the Mother Goddess. But now, we cannot afford to take our time anymore…”

“Unfortunately, the Church has found us here. I don’t have the time, nor can I escape with you. In front of that sword saint, I cannot do such things. So… I have no choice but to resort to drastic measures. Tonight, I will kill everyone in the town. I will use their blood to nourish you, to help you regain your life, awaken as a true divine body. I have no other choice… and perhaps I can only buy you one night.”

The woman’s single eye under the hood flickered with red light. After a moment, she withdrew her hand from the flowing blood.

“Only tonight, before dawn tomorrow, you must maintain your self in the chaos at all times, keep your mind firm, do not let the essence replace you, devour it, then… survive, change something.”

“This is indeed a desperate gamble, success or failure… depends on whether you can endure through tonight. If your consciousness is ultimately devoured by the essence, or if your body dissolves and dies here, then this world…”

The woman paused.

“Just let it be.”

She muttered, her body swaying slightly, as if she was unsteady. She held her forehead with one hand, her face pale under the hood, as if she had lost too much blood. She looked at the floating blood-colored orb, staggering back two steps, suddenly remembering something.

“Oh, you can’t hear me now…”

After a moment.

A woman named Elina turned her head and gazed at the golden light on the distant horizon.

And on the other side of the small town, there were also noisy voices, gradually gathering towards the commotion here…

…………

Thirty kilometers east of Messer Town, Carlos, the bearded swordsman leaning against sandstone and about to rest, suddenly lifted his head.

In the distant night sky, there was a faint glow of flowing gold entering his eyes.

“…Lia, Lia.”

He patted the seemingly already sleeping Laplia beside him, suddenly getting up from the ground. The woman rubbed her sleepy eyes, her voice thick and annoyed, “What now…”

“Wake up, look over there.”

Carlos said. The woman followed his direction and stared blankly for a moment, then stood up as well, “That is…”

“It’s the teachers.”

The man bent down to pick up the bag next to him, without turning around, he continued talking to Laplia, “It’s a teleportation node of the Church. The teachers have already started moving. They might be coming, those ‘Grace Scale’ people. We need to hurry, at least get there before them—”

“Do we still need to go? Hey!”

Lapia suddenly grabbed his arm, “What do you want to do? It’s too late!”

Carlos paused, still not turning around, “It’s not too late yet.”

“There’s still time.”

“Carlos! What exactly do you want to do? Is it just to go and deliver a message? What’s the point of delivering messages now? Can we still get away?!” The woman glared at his back, her eyes slightly red as she spoke through gritted teeth, “Or are you planning to confront the Church here, standing against your teacher and everyone else? For what? Just for a flat-chested girl!?”

“…You misunderstand, Lea. It’s not just about one girl, and I don’t intend to stand against everyone.”

The man gently freed himself from Lea’s grip on his arm: “There’s no need to worry. I just want to take a look. If there’s danger, I won’t act rashly. You know I… am not a reckless person, so there won’t be any problems. You should stay back too; it’s unnecessary and unsafe. You won’t be able to do anything… alright?”

He took a step forward.

Soon after, the sound of footsteps, “rustle rustle,” followed him from behind.

“I can’t let you go alone.”

A stubborn voice came from behind, “Let’s go together. I also want to see what the teachers and others plan to do.”

The man turned abruptly: “Lea, you—”

“Carlos, don’t forget, I’m also a knight of the Pope.”

He saw the woman’s eyes glistening with tears, and her smile in the desert.

Her smile was so beautiful.

…………

To the west of the desert.

Hundreds of golden-armored knights crossed the Yellow Mountain Ridge, marching resolutely under the night sky. The young bishop at the front of the formation, riding a white horse with horns, turned his head to look at the old man beside him who was riding an animal, holding his sword and resting his eyes. With furrowed brows, he said after a moment, “Sir Sword Saint, are you sure we only surround the town and do not attack? If we don’t launch a surprise attack under the cover of night, those heretics might find an opportunity…”

“…”

The old man did not speak.

After much hesitation, the bishop still felt it might be inappropriate and couldn’t help but add, “You mentioned that most of them are civilians… how do you determine this? After all, the female disciple hiding here might mean that this town is the new gathering place of the Gate of Truth… why don’t we take preemptive action and control the situation before they can react—”

“Aresta.”

The old man, called the Sword Saint, suddenly opened his eyes.

“The last time I saw you was in the Holy City, wasn’t it? That was many years ago… you were just a child then, always running behind your brother.”

The bishop named Aresta was slightly stunned.

“Yes, Sir Sword Saint… I didn’t expect you to remember me… it’s truly an honor…”

The old man waved his hand: “I remember, you swore in front of me that when you grow up, you will become like your brother, a devoted defender of God’s people, never retreating in the face of evil… a beloved warrior, a remarkable hero.”

“Yes, yes… Mr. Old Man actually remembers these things… I really… sigh, unfortunately, I don’t have my brother’s talent…”

“Talent is not the most important thing.”

The old man turned his head, looking directly into his eyes: “What matters most is whether or not you have the heart to protect the people, a burning heart. Aresta, does your heart still beat in your chest?”

“…”

The young bishop was somewhat stunned.

He watched the old man’s receding figure, his gaze flickering as he fell into deep thought.

…………

Above the sky, the thin light dispersed and gathered again, clouds rolling, stars shifting, a flock of red birds swooping away from the Yellow Mountain.

Soon, a crimson sun slowly rose from the east.

A new day was about to dawn.